So, is there any GOOD news?

WARS, TERRORISM, HATRED, UNREST AND GENERAL EVIL, ALONG WITH UNTOLD NATURAL DISASTERS. Our world reeks of these things!

So is there any GOOD news? YES!

The Bible tells us that, no matter what happens in this fallen world, believers in YHWH/Yeshua/Torah will receive eternal life with YAHWEH! Halleluyah!

First, however, we must endure many issues:

2 Timothy 3: 1-2 - But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy....

The Bible also warns us of the revival of the old Babylonian spirit in the last days, described in the 17th and 18th chapters of Revelation. In the passages below, we find a perfect description of the very condition of the days in which we are now living:

Jeremiah 51:7 Babel was a golden cup in the hand of YHWH, making drunk all the earth. The nations drank her wine, that is why the nations went mad! (ISR)

Zephaniah 1:18 - Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of YHWH. And by the fire of His jealousy all the earth shall be consumed, for He makes a sudden end of all those who dwell in the earth. (ISR)

(In other words, all the "stuff" we covet means nothing. We can't take it with us; and it won't matter, because we will ALL be equal in YAHWEH's eyes, and will be concentrating ALL our efforts on Him.)

Revelation 20:4 - Then I saw thrones, and those seated on them received authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for testifying about Yeshua and proclaiming the word of God, also those who had not worshipped the beast or its image and had not received the mark on their foreheads and on their hands. They came to life and ruled with the Messiah for a thousand years.

(NOTE, those had been BEHEADED (yikes! - who are the ONLY people on the planet who still perpetrate "beheadings?) for testifying about Yeshua , and those who had NOT worshipped the beast or its image, or received "the mark of the Beast," are the ones who come to life and rule with Yeshua during the Millennium.)

BACK TO ALL OUR TRIALS JUST PRIOR TO YESHUA'S RETURN:

Matthew 24:5-7 - You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

Mark 13:7. But when you hear of wars and rumors of revolutions, do not have fear. This is bound to happen, but is yet not the end. 8. For nation will arise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be earthquakes in various places. And there will be famine and uprisings. These things are the beginning of sorrows. (AENT)

2 Timothy 3: 1-2 - But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy....

BY NOW YOU SURELY GET THE DRIFT! (Please read Ecclesiastes 9:1-17 for more.) It's clear that we will continue to experience "tribulations" around the world. The disasters are coming faster and faster. The Bible tells us that, in the end times, there will be so many that we can't even recover from one disaster before the next one hits....

WHEN THINGS GET REALLY BAD, we suddenly receive a false "savior" disguised as a very charismatic man. Loved by all, he will be attractive and charismatic and highly intelligent (Rev. 13:18; Dan. 7:8); stronger than most (Dan. 7:20); a gifted communicator (Dan. 7:8); politically savvy (Dan. 9:27 and Rev. 17:12, 13, 17); a military genius (Rev. 13:4; 17:14; 19:19).

HOWEVER, while charming, his corrupt character will be revealed after three and a half years as he works to persecute the Jews and destroy our Messianic faith. A hater of YAHWEH's Torah (2 Thess. 2:8), he will blaspheme (Rev. 13:6); be consumed by selfish ambitions (Dan. 11:36, 37; 2 Thess. 2:4); attempt to change Biblical prophecies by twisting Scripture (Dan. 7:25); AND he will ultimately pretend to be God and demand to be worshipped (Dan. 11:36; 2 Thess. 2:4).

The passage below reveals how this will come about and then abruptly end:

Daniel 9: 26 Then, after the sixty-two weeks, Mashiach will be cut off and have nothing. The people of a prince yet to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary, but his end will come with a flood, and desolations are decreed until the war is over. 27 He will make a strong covenant with leaders for one week [of years]. For half of the week he will put a stop to the sacrifice and the grain offering. On the wing of detestable things the desolator will come and continue until the already decreed destruction is poured out on the desolator."

(IN MY OPINION, the day we hear of someone making a seven year peace treaty with Israel, we'll be able to count exactly seven years until Y'shua's return.)

IN THE MEANTIME - while all this sounds very scary, the Bible warns us NOT TO WORRY OR FRET or even be sad - because the BEST is yet to come: Eternal Life with YAHWEH!

1 Thessalonians 4: 13. And I wish you to know, my Brothers, that you should not mourn over them who have fallen asleep, like other people who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Y’shua died and rose again, even so them who sleep, will Elohim, by Y’shua, bring with him. 15. And this we say to you by the word of our Master (Y’shua), that we who may survive and be alive at the coming of our Master (Y’shua), will not precede them who have slept.

(In other words, the dead Believers in Messiah will rise first, and then we who are alive will follow.)

16. Because our Master (Y’shua) will himself descend from heaven with the mandate and with the voice of the chief Messenger and with the Qarna (trumpet) of Elohim; and the dead who are in the Mashiyach will first arise; 17. and then we who survive and are alive will be caught up together with them to the clouds to meet our Master (Y’shua) in the air; and so will we be ever with our Master. 18. And so, comfort you one another with these words. (AENT)

Isaiah 2:2 In the acharit-hayamim (latter days/end of days) the mountain of ADONAI's house will be established as the most important mountain. It will be regarded more highly than the other hills, and all the Goyim (Gentiles) will stream there. 3 Many peoples will go and say, "Come, let's go up to the mountain of ADONAI, to the house of the God of Ya'akov! He will teach us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths." For out of Tziyon will go forth Torah, the word of ADONAI from Yerushalayim.

4 He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. Then they will hammer their swords into plow-blades and their spears into pruning-knives; nations will not raise swords at each other, and they will no longer learn war. (CJB)

HALLELUYAH!!!!

Micah 4:1 But in the acharit-hayamim it will come about that the mountain of ADONAI's house will be established as the most important mountain. It will be regarded more highly than the other hills, and peoples will stream there. 2 Many Gentiles will go and say, "Come, let's go up to the mountain of ADONAI, to the house of the God of Ya'akov! He will teach us about his ways, and we will walk in his paths." For out of Tziyon will go forth Torah, the word of ADONAI from Yerushalayim.

Revelation 20: 11. And I saw a great white throne and Him who sits upon it; from whose presence the earth and heaven fled away, and this their place was not found. 12. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is (the book) of life. And the dead were judged from the things written in the books, according to their deeds.

13. And the sea gave up the dead in it; and death and Sheol gave up the dead in them. And they were judged, each one according to his deeds. 14. And death and Sheol were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death (namely,) this lake of fire. 15. And if any one was not found enrolled in the book of life, he was cast into this lake of fire. (AENT)

So, YES, that IS the good news … for BELIEVERS!

Atheists and "religion hoppers" and the "lukewarm" and anyone who didn't accept THE Creator, YHWH - the ELOHIM of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - are facing eternal separation from Him! It will be as if they never existed. (See 2 Thessalonians 1:9; Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:11-15.)

Unfortunately, most people today don't seem to be concerned with the "hereafter"; let alone YHWH or His Word. Even many Believers don't know the meaning of the word, "wholehearted" - and, as a result, they will NOT be taking that narrow gate that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14).

Micah 4:3 He will judge between many peoples and arbitrate for many nations far away. Then they will hammer their swords into plow-blades and their spears into pruning-knives; nations will not raise swords at each other, and they will no longer learn war. 4 Instead, each person will sit under his vine and fig tree, with no one to upset him, for the mouth of ADONAI-Tzva'ot has spoken. 5 For all the peoples will walk, each in the name of its god; but we will walk in the name of ADONAI our God forever and ever. (CJB)